Is there a home birth thread on MN?

[WestYorkshireGirl]

I've been trying to find a home birth thread on the talk boards but not having any luck. Is anyone else planning for a HB imminently? I am hoping for a home water birth in around 2 weeks with an independent mw and it would be great if anyone else was also in the same position or had recently had a HB.

Hi, I would call your midwive to arrange an appointment to check this, it definately needs to be in your notes! In our area if you're planning a HB all the CMWs go onto a rota to make sure someone is available to attend you so they absolutely have to be aware that you're planning this, they should give you contact numbers to call when you go into labour and have a homebirth pack dropped off at your house by about 36 weeks. Hope that helps.

Hi Everyone, can I join in please?
I'm not due until November so very, very early days here but I am hoping for a HB so have really loved reading this thread (also looking forward to reading through the older threads). Thanks for sharing all your experiences.
I'm hoping to have my 2nd baby at home after a horrible hospital experience first time around with DS1. I've already met with a bit of resistance when I spoke to my GP at the initial appointment but I'm really hoping that I will have a better reaction when I start dealing with the midwife rather than the GP.

Hello - I see this thread pop up all the time and wanted to say hi. I had a lovely homebirth 14 months ago in Hackney.

I'm pretty evangelical about it now so wanted to say 'great news' that you are planning/thinking about a homebirth.

I do have quite a bit of experience with issues that come up along the way with homebirths (I'm a doula and lots of my clients have had/are planning HBs) so if you ever need someone to bounce stuff off/get info off you can always PM me.

Tip of the day: Towels. Get more cheap/old towels than you think you could possibly need especially if you plan to labour/birth in water. Chances are you'll get in and out of the pool a bit and there have been times when women have gone to have a shower afterwards and there are no blinking towels left!

Need some advice/opinions lovely ladies.

I am pg with No2 and not due until November but I fear I'm going to have a fight on my hands so need to get started now. I am also not sure whether I am risking my life or my baby's life by insisting on a HB. Help.

Keeping it brief, DD is 2.5 and arrived via EMCS following failed induction. I also had StrepB infection, borderline high blood pressure throughout pregnancy and was on low dose tablets to control it. No other signs of pre-eclampsia at all, despite consultant insisting on a full day of monitoring at 39weeks. Failed to bond with DD for at least 6weeks and milk never came in. Convinced it was to do with trauma of birth.
I also have a high (obese level) BMI.

I know it doesn't look good but I enjoyed my pregnancy with DD, felt fit and well (and do wth this one). I know i am classic high risk but I do not sit eating crap all day. Eats loads of fruit/veg, go for long walks, play lots with DD.
Basically, I instinctively trust my body and think if I hadn't been induced, I would have laboured just fine. My blood pressure is caused a bit by white coat syndrome and a HB just feels the right thing for me.

MW initially was supportive, despite my size but that was before she found out I had a EMCS. She said the hospital with advise against due to scar rupture and I would have a hard fight on my hands. She did seem midly supportive though and told me about another woman last year who had a MBA2Cs.

Can I have your opnions please? I am not looking to endanger anyone's life but I truly feel a HB would be better for me and my baby.

MBA2Cs should be HBA2Cs

Hi MrsRidcully (can I shorten!?) -
I'm really sorry that I can't offer any advice on your situation, it sounds mildly tricky, but from all the reading I've been doing, I can't imagine that you wouldn't be able to have a HB. Have you read the previous threads on HomeBirth, they document quite a few people's struggles with being approved for a HB and it's really very inspirational. I will try and find the link to those older threads.

FIRST HB THREAD

And here's the second - loads of inspirational stories!

SECOND HB THREAD

Thanks for sharing squiggley - it seems like most people who have experienced HB are SO positive about the experience, it's very encouraging.
I used to live in Hackney and I don't think I would have wanted to give birth in Homerton hospital {shudder...}bleuk.
I'm now in Oxford where I think they are supposed to be very pro HB. Fingers Xd anyhow.

Would just like to second what Loopymumsy says - it's silly that you are either low or high risk. I was somewhere in between.

My 'test' for finding out whether you are high risk or not - if you go for a consultant appointment, are kept waiting for 2-3 hours and then see - whoever, some relatively junior doctor, possibly a midwife, none of whom have read your notes and only briefly see you for a few minutes - then you are definitely not a high risk.

My experience of high risk people was that they got to see the consultant each time, the consultant knew their history, and even wanted to be notified when they went into labour.

Hello all - Just thought I would join in. I'm due at the end of June and am booked for a home birth. I've been very lucky in that my midwife has been very supportive and I haven't had any problems being 'allowed'. I did have some bleeding last week and was referred to the hospital, they couldn't find a cause and no-one raised the potential of it affecting my homebirth, so I hope it won't!

I'm feeling pretty happy with the idea of homebirth, my major concern at the minute is the birth pool and whether our floors are strong enough!

Is anyone else using hypnotherapy? I'm doing a natal hypnotherapy course in a few weeks.

MainlyMaynie I just had a homebirth 2 1/2 weeks ago and I had done the HypnoBirthing course and I think it definitely helped (well I got to 6-7cm without really realising i was in labour!). I didn't use the visualisation techniques (I was always rubbish at them) but used the breathing and listened to the cd as I had become conditioned to the music and it sent me off to sleep.

My homebirth was for DC1 and I am so pleased we went with that option. We had 3 amazing midwives attend us (one was a student - her first home birth!) and apparently it was textbook

Hello everyone, hope you are all feeling good! MainlyMaynie hi there - wow June seems quite close really! Is it your first DC?

Is there a list of stats on this thread yet? (I'm sorry I've forgotten)
If not then what say we start one up?

I'll trundle off and have a proper look to see if there are stats...

Ok found some stats! I will try to update too. Looks like most people have already popped - hope you all had lovely births either at home or at hospital.
If anyone feels like coming back and telling us their HB stories it would be much appreciated - or a link if you've already put it down somewhere else.

DUE:
newyearsday EDD 8/5/11 pg1(ds1)
Marthamay EDD 24/11/11 DC2 (DS 12months)

ARRIVED:
Hackneyzoo EDD 9/1/11 DC3 (DD 3.8, DS 2)
hastingsmum EDD 30/01/11 (DS1 5 + DS2 2.5)
Earlgreyismynectar EDD 9.2.11 dc2 (DD1 aged 4)
NeedToSLeepZZZ EDD 10/2/11
EauRouge EDD 18/02/11 DC2 (DD 2.3)
Knittakid EDD 24/02/11 DS1
Hazchem EDD 26/2/11 pg1
mannicmummyhavinabiccy EDD 28/02/2011 (DD10, DS3)
me23 due 23/3/11 pg#2 (dd 5)
Zafnoodles EDD 30/3/11 pg#1
Pettyprudence EDD 30/03/11 pg1
toodles EDD 23/03/11 pg4

oooooh! Not long to go for you too loopy. Have you be doing anything in preparation?

I had a home birth in March last year with my first baby and it was fab. Plenty of gas and air, pethadine was sent for (no doctors prescription needed), although by the time it arrived I was ready to push. my midwife was amazing through out. I went into complete panic after the birth (think it was all the adrenaline, hormones and relief that it was all over as I was so worried about it for the 9months before hand) and the midwife stayed with me for 2 hours after and came back for every breast feed until we got the hang of it.
I am 37w with my 2nd and planning another homebirth. I am planning to use a pool this time around. Ask your midwife if you need to get a doctors prescription to have pethadine as i know in some areas, you need one.

Good luck :)

Loopy your 4th!!!! How fantastic! Presumably the last three were good. I'm sorry if you have already explained the long and rocky road, I'll have to go back and re-read previous pages.
Just out of interest, what have you done with other DC whilst HB-ing? I'm still very unsure about what and where my DS (he will be 18 months) will be....

Charl I'd love to hear more about your first HB. When is your due date then???

Could I join please? I'm planning a HBAC (EDD 3/8/11) with DC4, basic history, DD born in hospital which was actually lovely and peaceful 10 hour labour, no drugs. DS1 planned HB but I was in a car crash at 36 weeks which started me off with a bit of a bleed so delivered in hospital, again quick 2 hour labour no probs or drugs and me and baby fine. DS3 started at home but had to transfer in, baby back to back, deflexed head, cord around neck and a 9lb 4oz whopper which ended in EMCS. I've got my fingers crossed for 3rd time HB lucky and loving all the positive stories.

Hi folks I'm interested in your opinion of HBAC. My consultants will not support it at all, although mws are mildly OK.
My other complications are high blood pressure and BMI. Due date is 16 Nov and it's early days but I'm pushing for a hb. If I can keep my bp under control (pregnancy induced, plus white coat) then for me the risk is rupture, which is low and I would transfer if any probs.
Just wondered what your approach is and if you are supported?

Hi Mrs Ridcully, at the moment my MW is being quite lovely, she said she needed to have a chat about me with the HOM and was quite anxious that I understood the (tiny) risks and would listen to her if labour did not progress smoothly. I reassured her on these points but was firm and assertive about going for HBAC, think "I am having my baby at home how will you support me" rather than "I wondered if there was any possibility..." and you'll get the idea. The chat with the HOM obviously went well because I'm back on the homebirth list without any comment from anyone. However I have to go back to hospital for a 34 week scan to check that a tiny corner of my placenta has moved up out of the markable zone and am dreading meeting the consultant then, trying not to worry about it too much. I can ASSURE you that you are not the only woman to ever HBAC, the yahoo UKvbachbac group is a great place to find support and well worth checking out.